12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidaysFort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
As we have reported this week, some people have unfinished homes. Some just have a vacant lot. The owner of the vacant lot told WINK News Reporter Olivia Jean he paid $100,000 to Beattie Development, and they never broke ground. The owner explained that he had previously hired Beattie before the pandemic and thought Beattie did a great job. So, when his house needed to be rebuilt after Hurricane Ian, he called Beattie Development. Within 15 days of signing the contract, he sent Beattie Development over $100,000. He then said he was “pulling teeth” to get Beattie to start on his house. Once Beattie asked him to move his permits to a new entity, he realized he needed to terminate his contract. “I’m one of the luckier, unluckier ones,” the owner said due to him not having liens, making his house free and clear to move forward with a new contractor. RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Former Beattie Development project manager speaks out RELATED: Beattie Development at risk of losing BBB accreditation WINK News has talked to several homeowners, but what about those selling the land? Steven LaBoeuf, owner of Florida Gulf Home Realty, said he quickly regretted his recommendation to send three of his clients to work with Beattie Development. He said, “I decided I wasn’t going to recommend anybody again.” He said all three of them have their homes, but they lost thousands of dollars as a result. The first client was completed before “things got out of control.” The second client did a lot themselves to get moved in. The third client was left with an unfinished home by Beattie after paying in full but was able to more or less complete it. LaBoeuf also told us that the Beattie Development owes him $16,000 for commissions on two new construction homes, but he doesn’t expect to ever get that money. He went on to say, “Paul [Beattie] pursued me to sell homes for him because he knew I sold 2-3 new construction per year.” READ MORE: Where’s Beattie? Former customers speak out; connect through group chat READ MORE: Beattie Development subcontractors speak out LaBoeuf was happy to see Cape Coral police take some action when they raided Beattie’s office on Wednesday. “I was thrilled to death. I was on an airplane on Tuesday, and when I landed, my phone was blowing up from everybody that I talked to about the guy. They’re all sending me pictures and videos. And I’m like, yes, because my customers, I’m like, I was begging the one customer in particular that paid over $100,000 in escalation. I go, ‘Dude, you got to get a lawyer.’ Somebody’s got to stand up to this guy. He keeps doing this to everybody,” LaBoeuf said. “I would like to have a picture of Paul Beatty behind bars, or at least with handcuffs on, so I can hang it in my office,” LaBoeuf said. There is still no word from Cape Coral police about the Wednesday raid of the Beattie Development Offices. As for Paul Beattie, WINK News did reach out again on Friday, as we have since Wednesday, and have not heard back. WINK News will keep pushing for answers, but in the meantime, contact us if you have information about Beattie’s development to share.